Egg The egg stage begins the lifecycle, where the organism is enclosed within a protective casing. Here, the future goldenrod leaf miner is small, immobile, and develops until it's ready to hatch, with minimal visible change from the outside.
Larva Following the egg, the larva of goldenrod leaf miner appears worm-like, with a distinct head and chewing mouthparts for feeding. It lacks developed wings, is typically a different color than adults, and grows rapidly, necessitating several molts.
Pupal In this stage, goldenrod leaf miner undergoes transformation inside a pupa. It is immobile and appears dormant, but significant changes are occurring internally, including the development of wings, adult legs, antennae, and mature body segments.
Adult Emerging from the pupa, the adult goldenrod leaf miner’s development is marked by the presence of wings and functional reproductive organs. The body is fully formed and hardened, and the adult is mobile, focusing on reproduction.